ERIC Number: EJ730105
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Feb
Pages: 15
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0140-1971
EISSN: N/A
Linking Obesity and Activity Level with Children's Television and Video Game Use
Vandewater, Elizabeth A.; Shim, Mi-suk; Caplovitz, Allison G.
Journal of Adolescence, v27 n1 p71-85 Feb 2004
This study examined the links between childhood obesity, activity participation and television and video game use in a nationally representative sample of children (N=2831) ages 1-12 using age-normed body mass index (BMI) ratings. Results indicated that while television use was not related to children's weight status, video game use was. Children with higher weight status played moderate amounts of electronic games, while children with lower weight status played either very little or a lot of electronic games. Interaction analyses revealed that this curvilinear relationship applied to children under age 8 and that girls, but not boys, with higher weight status played more video games. Children ages 9-12 with lower weight status used the computer (non-game) for moderate amounts of time, while those with higher weight status used the computer either very little or a lot. This was also true for the relationship between print use and weight status for children of all ages. Results also indicated that children with higher weight status spent more time in sedentary activities than those with lower weight status.
Descriptors: Obesity, Video Games, Childrens Television, Participation, Physical Activity Level, Mass Media Effects, Health Behavior, Children, Gender Differences, Child Health, Television Viewing, Physical Activities
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A